GHS Flaunts Success Of Measles Eradication Program

Dr Anthony Nsiah Asare, the Director General of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), says it has not recorded cases of measles in the country since 2003.

He said measles had become one of the rare care medical cases after the GHS had taken seriously over the years in the bid to eliminate neo-natal tetanus.

Dr Asare, who was speaking at the launch of a leadership training for immunisation supply chain managers in Accra, said the new doctors, unlike the older ones, would even find it difficult to identify the symptoms of Measles because cases were not being recorded.

The launch was organised by Global Alliance for Vaccine and Immunisation (GAVI) in partnership with United Parcel Services (UPS) to provide healthcare personnel with soft skill, leadership skills and competencies engrained in private sector to enable them to effectively fulfil their roles.

He said the goal was to improve participants’ general skills in people management, communication, project management, problem-solving and personal/professional development and provide specific people management skills instructions.

It is also expected to specifically focus on critical leadership skills, within a realistic supply chain management context and opportunities for practice and network with peers as well as offer insights and best practices from the private sector.

The Director-General said the Ghana Health Service had not achieved the success only in the area Measles, but Polio meningitis and Meningitis, saying, Ghana had also not recorded Polio and Meningitis since 2008 and 2012, respectively.

Dr Asare said there had been a significant reduction in Pneumonia, Diarrhoea and the reduction of under-five mortality, adding that in spite of the robust reduction, chalking the 100 percent success was tough.

He said vaccines, in general, were encouraging healthy lives for all worldwide.

Source: GNA.